Jake Middleton enters camp with Ryan Huska facing a Calgary blue line crowded enough to force some uncomfortable roster decisions.
The Flames currently have Kevin Bahl, Simon Nemec, Zayne Parekh and Zach Whitecloud positioned among their leading options on defense. Behind them, the competition gets messy fast.
Yan Kuznetsov established himself as an everyday NHL option, while Middleton, Brayden Pachal, Joel Hanley and Hunter Brzustewicz are also fighting for spots.
That leaves Calgary with 9 defensemen pushing for limited NHL work. General manager Craig Conroy suddenly has both a roster problem and potential trade ammunition.
Calgary finished last season 34-39-9 with 77 points, so standing still isn't an especially attractive route. The Flames also posted a -47 goal differential.
The pressure goes beyond choosing Huska's opening-night defensemen. Carrying too many players at one position can squeeze roster flexibility and leave useful pieces sitting in the press box.
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Craig Conroy has roster space to create
A trade before training camp would give Conroy a chance to clear the logjam while potentially addressing another area of the lineup instead of losing leverage later.
The forward group could move too. Connor Zary's name surfaced in trade chatter around the NHL Draft, adding another possible route if Calgary decides on a larger shakeup.
There is also a prospect wave coming. Several young players are expected to turn professional after the upcoming NCAA season, meaning Calgary must keep future roster spots in mind now.
That makes a veteran subtraction easier to understand. The Flames don't need another body fighting for a chair when Huska already has difficult lineup calls waiting for him.
Morgan Frost adds another contract wrinkle. Calgary's expected top center is scheduled to reach unrestricted free agency next summer, giving Conroy another file that could become much bigger during the season.
Jonathan Huberdeau's recovery also hangs over the lineup after hip surgery ended his season in February. His availability for the start of the schedule has not been confirmed.
Nothing guarantees Conroy makes a deal before puck drop on the new season. But Calgary has enough depth on defense that keeping everyone would create its own problem.
Training camp should bring clarity. Before then, the Flames have every reason to see what their surplus can bring back.
Should Craig Conroy trade a Flames defenseman before training camp?
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